By the way an extrapolation of recent council byelections by the Press Association suggests that Labour and the Conservatives are neck and neck in the national share of the vote.

There have been 14 contests since the March 19th Budget. The PA have looked at eight wards fought both times by all three major parties and the figures are: Lab 34.6 per cent, C 31.3 per cent, Lib Dem 19.2 per cent. However when they make an adjustment for those wards to reflect the national share of the vote Labour’s lead falls to 0.3 per cent.